The largest loss, 742 jobs, will come from Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia.

The cuts will save $1.6 billion over the next five years, helping to meet the Department of Defense’s directive to decrease costs and staff by 20 percent, according to the Pentagon.

The Air Force said the cuts will likely come sooner rather than later.

“We are aggressively pushing reductions within the first year, rather than spread them out over the five years as allowed by DoD,” said Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James in a statement on Monday. “It’s better for airmen because it provides them predictability and allows us to re-stabilize our workforce sooner.”

Officials said the largest part of the initiative is consolidating oversight of installation and mission support activities under the newly created Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center.

The new center will have a staff of 350, but officials did not say where it will be located.

Twelve of the jobs being eliminated at Hurlburt Field are due to the creation of the new center.

The remaining positions being lost in Northwest Florida came from a review of headquarters management.

Officials said Monday that savings at the headquarters level could help the Air Force exceed the 20 percent directive and allow for additional combat capability.

“Reducing higher headquarters’ staff means we can save money that can be re-invested in getting ready for combat missions at the wing level,” said Bill Booth, the Air Force’s deputy chief management officer, in a statement.

The largest loss, 742 jobs, will come from Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia.

The cuts will save $1.6 billion over the next five years, helping to meet the Department of Defense’s directive to decrease costs and staff by 20 percent, according to the Pentagon.

The Air Force said the cuts will likely come sooner rather than later.

“We are aggressively pushing reductions within the first year, rather than spread them out over the five years as allowed by DoD,” said Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James in a statement on Monday. “It’s better for airmen because it provides them predictability and allows us to re-stabilize our workforce sooner.”

Officials said the largest part of the initiative is consolidating oversight of installation and mission support activities under the newly created Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center.

The new center will have a staff of 350, but officials did not say where it will be located.

Twelve of the jobs being eliminated at Hurlburt Field are due to the creation of the new center.

The remaining positions being lost in Northwest Florida came from a review of headquarters management.

Officials said Monday that savings at the headquarters level could help the Air Force exceed the 20 percent directive and allow for additional combat capability.

“Reducing higher headquarters’ staff means we can save money that can be re-invested in getting ready for combat missions at the wing level,” said Bill Booth, the Air Force’s deputy chief management officer, in a statement.